Safety package assembly and divides clamp therefor

ABSTRACT

A safety package assembly for isolating chemically reactive constituents until ready for intermixing comprising inner and outer tubular containers, the opposite ends of the inner container being charged with proper quantities of the two reactive constituents and previously held isolated by a detachable divider clamp assembly applied crosswise of the collapsed midportions of said container. A wall failure at either or both ends of the inner container merely permits a constituent to escape into the contiguous compartment of the outer container. Even when both ends of the inner compartment fail the constituents are retained captive and positively isolated until removal of the clamp. The divider clamp assembly is formed of differentially resilient materials, the stiffer more resilient outer member having sharp edged ribs positioned to press the container walls against the softer inner clamping member.

United States Patent [191 Thompson et a1.

[ June 26, 1973 SAFETY PACKAGE ASSEMBLY AND DIVIDES CLAMP THEREFOR 221Filed: Feh.24, 1971 21 Appl.No.:118,398

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 869,504, Oct.27, 1969.

1,437,179 3/1966 France 206/47 A Primary Examiner-Leonard SummerAttorney-Sellers and Brace [57] ABSTRACT A safety package assembly forisolating chemically reactive constituents. until ready for intermixingcomprising inner and outer tubular containers, the opposite ends of theinner container being charged with proper quantities of the two reactiveconstituents and previously held isolated by a detachable divider clampassembly applied crosswise of the collapsed midportions of saidcontainer. A wall failure at either or both ends of the inner containermerely permits a constituent to escape into the contiguous compartmentof the outer container. Even when both ends of the inner compartmentfail the constituents are retained captive and positively isolated untilremoval of the clamp. The divider clamp assembly is formed ofdifferentially resilient materials, the stiffer more resilient outermember having sharp edged ribs positioned to press the container wallsagainst the softer inner clamping member.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SAFETY PACKAGE ASSEMBLY AND DIVIDES CLAMPTHEREFOR This application is a division of our copending application forUnited States Letters Patent Ser. No. 869,504, filed Oct. 27, 1969, andhaving the same title as this application.

This invention relates to packaging assemblies and more particularly toan improved safety package for isolating chemically reactiveconstituents at the opposite ends of a common inner storage compartmentuntil ready for intermixing and including a surrounding container forholding the constituents captive and isolated should a failure occur inthe inner compartment wall. The safety package assembly also featuresimproved divider clamp means for holding the constituents separateduntil ready for use.

Ina typical application for which the invention safety package isadmirably suited, the principal constituents of a polymerizablethermoplastic composition are packaged, stored and shipped. When thesetwo principal ingredients comprising resinous material and a catalyticagent are mixed, polymerization ensues to form a rigid body of a desiredconfiguration. Various proposals have been made heretofore for apackaging container formed with partition means separating the principalconstituents until ready for intermixing and use. Despite the manyattempts made to provide easily destroyed frangible partitions betweenadjacent compartments for the constituents, these expedients have notbeen satisfactory for a number of reasons. To avoid these difficulties,it has been proposed to hold the constituents in the opposite ends of aunitary container by a removable clamp applied across the midportion ofthe container. Although such divider clamping assemblies have met withgreater success than frangible partitions they are typically subject tothe serious disadvantage that the clamps sometimes fail or loosenreleasing some or all of the catalyst into the resin thereby allowingthe contents of the package to polymerize prematurely and whilepackaged. Another serious disadvantage of prior packaging assemblies ofthis type results from rupture of one or both compartments by theapplication of a sharp blow or excessive pressure. Not only do thecontents then escape onto other items in the immediate vicinity but thepackage and its contents become worthless.

According to the present invention, eminently satisfactory solutions areprovided for each of the foregoing shortcomings of prior packagingassemblies. Failure of the principal container and loss of its contentshas been overcome by the simple expedient of enclosing the innercontainer in an outer container of the same general construction butpreferably of stronger material and in a size slightly larger than themain or inner container. The chemically reactive constituents areisolated from one another in the opposite ends of the main containerwhich is then sealed within outer protective container. An improveddivider clamping assembly is then employed to hold the walls of the twointernested containers tightly compressed against one another to formtwo pairs of completely isolated compartments at the opposite ends ofthe containers. The outer chambers or compartments being slightly largerthan the inner compartments and normally not filled, are not subject toload forces. Accordingly, applied stresses are substantially confined tothe walls of the compartments at either end of the inner container withthe result that any failure first occurs in the walls of this container.The escape of the contents then takes place into the sealed surroundingcompartment of the outer container and there held captive until theclamping assembly is removed. Accordingly, even through both innercompartments are ruptured the contents cannot intermingle until theclamping assembly is removed. At this time, the ingredients can beintermixed thoroughly with one another preliminary to the opening of theinner and outer containers and use of the contents.

The improved clamping and divider assembly includes a relatively soft,smooth surfaced inner member and a relatively stiff highly resilientU-shaped outer member snugly embracing the inner member and cooperatingtherewith to hold the two container walls flattened and compressedagainst one another between the two clamping members. Aiding verymaterially in holding the parts assembled in this manner are a pluralityof sharp edged ribs projecting inwardly from the inner surface of theU-shaped clip member. Desirably, only the innermost pair of these ribsare positioned in close proximity to the inner clamping member, theother sharp edge ribs being positioned to come progressively intoclamping operation if and upon any tendency of the clamping members tobecome disengaged. Highly superior clamping effectiveness and operatingreliability has been found to result when using a relatively soft lessresilient inner member in combination with a highly resilient andrelatively stiff inflexible outer member particularly when the latterincludes inwardly projecting sharp edged ribs. The use of a series ofribs in parallel along either leg of the outer clip member and soarranged as to become operative in sequence upon any tendency of theclamp members to become disassembled and cooperating to urge the clampparts back into their proper assembled position has been found to addgreatly to the reliability and foolproof characteristics of the dividerclamp assembly.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providea more reliable, trouble free and dependable packaging assembly forholding chemically reactive constituents isolated within a commonpackage until ready for use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a single usedisposable packaging assembly for a plurality of constituents maintainedin isolation until needed and including a surrounding safety chamberinto which the contents escape upon failure of the inner container wall.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading thefollowing specification and claims and upon considering in connectiontherewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one preferred embodiment of the inventionsafety packaging assembly with portions broken away to showconstructional details;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the package shown in FIG. 1 withportions of the walls braken away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale taken through one endof the divider clamp assembly; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 44 on FIG. 3.

Referring initially and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there isshown an illustrative embodiment of the present invention designatedgenerally 10. This packaging assembly includes an elongated innertubular container 11 and an outer slightly larger longer tubularcontainer 12. Desirably, both containers are formed of any suitableflexible sheet material of adequate strength and impervious to moistureand the contents to be packaged. A particularly suitable materialcomprises high strength polyethylene, polyvinylchloride or any ofnumerous other thermoplastic compositions well known to those in thepackaging art. Preferably, the outer container 12 is of greaterthickness and strength than the inner container to withstand impactblows and contact with abrasive and sharp edged bodies. As will beappreciated, the outer container is customarily exposed to greaterhazards than the inner bag. However, the inner bag is subjected to fluidpressure if excessive weight is applied to the package assembly from itsextenor.

It will be understood that the interiors of both containers areunobstructed and in full communication with one another until and unlesstheir opposite side walls are held compressed against one another in atransverse band between their opposite ends. This is achieved using theinventiondivider clamp assembly comprising a first or smooth surfacedmandrel member 15 and a second generally U-shaped clip member 16 andpreferably made in the configurations best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Theelongated divider members are of equal length adequate to project beyondthe opposite lateral edges of the flattened tubular containers 11, 12.Mandrel member 15 is here shown as being tubular and generally circularin cross section. Preferably it has a smooth exterior surface and ashape and size nesting snugly against the interior surface 17 along theentire bight portion of clip 16.

Clip 16 is generally U-shape in cross section and the outer ends 18, 18of its legs flare away from one another and have rounded outer edges.The interior surfaces of legs 18 are provided with a pluralityofintegral sharp-edged ribs 19 extending parallel to one another and tothe axis of mandrel member 15 when the latter is properly and fullyseated within the bight portion of the clip.

As herein illustrated, the innermost pair of ribs 19 are positioned toapply light to moderate pressure against the compressed and flattenedside walls of tubular containers 11 and 12. However, if member 15 is notfully seated then it will be apparent that the inner pair of ribs 19 toeither side of member 15 will press the side walls of the bags againstmember 16 with greater pressure and that the adjacent pair of ribs 19will then be in a position to press the flattened side walls of thecontainer against member 15, and supplement the sealing action and aswell as to apply pressure resisting further disassembly of member 15from its fully seated position. It will likewise be understood that thethird and fourth pairs of ribs 19 will be brought into restrainingoperation should member 15 continue its escape movement toward the outerends of the legs of clip 16.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the described clampingassembly is so proportioned that the innermost pair of ribs 19 arenormally effective to apply clamping pressure between their outer sharpedge and the four layers of the two containers to hold the latter firmlycompressed against the relatively soft, inner member 15 thereby to holdthe latter fully internested under pressure against the bight portion ofthe highly resilient and relatively stiffclip 16. Since the transversespacing or air gap between the sharp edges of related pairs of ribs 19progressively decreases toward the outer ends of legs 18, it will bereadily evident that should there by any tendency for the clampingmembers tomove out of their fully nested positions, ribs 19 becomeincreasingly effective to cam member 15 back into its proper fullynested position.

Although members 15 and 16 may be made of either metallic ornon-metallic materials, highly satisfactory results have been achievedwhen both members are made of elastomeric material including both rubberand thermoplastic compositions. Preferably, tubular member 15 is formedof relatively soft low resiliency 7 elastomeric material whereas theclip member 16 is formed of relatively stiff highly resilient materials,member 15 having a durometer of Rockwell 93 :t 3 on the A scale and clipmember 16 having a durometer of 78 i 3 on the D scale. s V

It will be understood that the containers 11,12 may be assembled onewithin the other with their flattened mid portions placed crosswise ofthe outer edges of legs 18 of clip 16. Member 15 is then placed againstthe exterior of the outer container opposite and between the legs 18 andthen forcibly pressed between thelegs until fully seated in the positionshown in FIGS. 2 4. For clarity of illustration, it will be recognizedthat the thickness of the container walls is shown greatly exaggerated.In actual practice the walls are only a few mils thick with the resultthat the outer radius of member 15 is substantially identical with theinner .radiusof the bight portion 17 prior to assembly of the parts; infact, the radius of member 15 may be slightly greater than the relaxedinner radius of surface 17. It follows that when the parts are properlyassembled, the juxtaposed surfaces of member 15 and of surface 17 willbe highly effective in pressing the flattened surfaces of the containersagainst one another and against relatively soft surface of mandrelmember 15 as well as against the sharp edges of the innerpost pair ofribs 19.

The divider clamping assembly 15,16 having been applied as described,the open outer ends of the inner container 11 may be charged such aswith the chemically reactive constituents. For example, one of thechambers may be charged with resinous material 20 and the other with asuitable polymerizing and catalystic material 21. The transverse ends22,23 of the inner container are then sealed closed, as by heat sealingor any other suitable mode. Thereafter, the outer ends 24,25 of outercontainer 12 are similarly sealed closed.

The completed package assembly is now ready for shipment or storageuntil the packaged materials 20,21 are required for use. If in themeantime, excessive pressure or a sharp blow is delivered againstthepackage assemblythe somewhat weaker inner container will fail firstand the contents thereof will excape into the associatd enclosingchamber provided by the outer protective container 12. However, thematerial escaping into one end of the outer container cannot pass intothe opposite end of this container owing to the powerful and highlyreliable clamping action provided by clamping members 15,16. For thisreason, even though both chambers of container 1 1 should fail orrupture, chemically reactive constituents 20,21 cannot intermingle untilor unless clip 16 is removed. The removal operation is most readilyaccomplished by grasping the opposite ends of the two containers andabruptly pulling them taut thereby spreading the legs of the clip andejecting member 15. The clamping assembly having been removed, thereactive materials 20,21 are thoroughly intermixed and then released foruse by cutting off one adjacent pair of ends of the two containers.

Whilethe particular safety package assembly and divider clamp thereforherein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining theobjects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to beunderstood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferredembodiment of the invention.

We claim:

1. A safety package assembly for retaining chemically reactiveconstituents isolated until ready for intermixing comprising elongatedinner and outer noncompartmented tubular containers of imperviousthermoplastic sheet material, said inner container being generally aslong as but smaller than and enclosed within said outer container andthe opposite ends of both containers being sealed closed, a dividerassembly detachably embracing said containers crosswise of theircompactly flattened midportions effective to divide each container intoseparate fluid-tight compartments at the opposite ends thereof, saidseparate compartments of said inner container being charged one with oneconstituent and one with adifferent constituent reactive with oneanother upon removal of said divider assembly, the separate compartmentsof said outer container outwardly of said inner container being normallyfree of either of said constituents, and said divider assembly beingeffective to maintain said chemically reactive constituents isolatedfrom one another within the respective contiguous ends of said inner andouter containers despite a failure in the wall of said inner container.

2. A safety package assembly as defined in claim 1 characterizedin thatsaid inner container is separate from'said outer container.

3. A safety package assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in thatsaid inner and outer containers are sealed closed at their opposite endsindependently of one another.

4. A safety package assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in thatsaid inner container is enclosed within said outer container with itswalls and opposite ends in close proximity to but disconnected from thejuxtaposed walls of said outer container.

5. A safety package assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in thatsaid .divider assembly comprises a pair of intemesting differentiallyresilient first and second members each having a length greater than theflattened width'of said containers, said first member being relativelysoft and said second member being relatively stiff and U-shaped in crosssection with the inner surface shaped to embrace and press said firstmember and the flattened sides of said inner and outer containers snuglyopposite a major portion of the girth 7. A safety package assembly asdefined in claim 5 characterized in that said U-shaped member is formedof nonmetallic elastomeric material having a durometer of approximatelyRockwell 78 on the D Scale.

8. A safety package assembly as defined in claim 5 characterized in thatsaid first member is tubular and having a cross-sectional shapegenerally conforming to the juxtoposed interior contour of that portionof said second member free of said sharp edged ribs.

9. A safety package as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the wallstrength of said outer container is greater than the wall strength ofsaid inner container.

10. A safety package as defined in claim 1 characterized in that saidinner and outer containers are sealed closed independently of oneanother whereby a sealing failure at either end of said inner containermerely releases'the contents of the adjacent end half of said innercontainer into the associated surrounding end half of said outercontainer.

1. A safety package assembly for retaining chemically reactiveconstituents isolated until ready for intermixing comprising elongatedinner and outer non-compartmented tubular containers of imperviousthermoplastic sheet material, said inner container being generally aslong as but smaller than and enclosed within said outer container andthe opposite ends of both containers being sealed closed, a dividerassembly detachably embracing said containers crosswise of theircompactly flattened midportions effective to divide each container intoseparate fluid-tight compartments at the opposite ends thereof, saidseparate compartments of said inner container being charged one with oneconstituent and one with a different constituent reactive with oneanother upon removal of said divider assembly, the separate compartmentsof said outer container outwardly of said inner container being normallyfree of either of said constituents, and said divider assembly beingeffective to maintain said chemically reactive constituents isolatedfrom one another within the respective contiguous ends of said inner andouter containers despite a failure in the wall of said inner container.2. A safety package assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in thatsaid inner container is separate from said outer container.
 3. A safetypackage assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said innerand outer containers are sealed closed at their opposite endsindependently of one another.
 4. A safety package assembly as defined inclaim 1 characterized in that said inner container is enclosed withinsaid outer container with its walls and opposite ends in close proximityto but disconnected from the juxtaposed walls of said outer container.5. A safety package assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in thatsaid divider assembly comprises a pair of internesting differentiallyresilient first and second members each having a length greater than theflattened width of said containers, said first member being relativelysoft and said second member being relatively stiff and U-shaped in crosssection with the inner surface shaped to embrace and press said firstmember and the flattened sides of said inner and outer containers snuglyopposite a major portion of the girth and length of said first member,and the inner surface of said second member being formed with aplurality of sharp edged nonresilient ribs extending lengthwise thereofin position to compress the juxtaposed walls of said containers forciblyagainst one another and against the underlying relatively soft surfaceof said first member.
 6. A safety package assembly as defined in claim 5characterized in that said sharp edged ribs are integral with arespective leg of said U-shaped second member.
 7. A safety packageassembly as defined in claim 5 characterized in that said U-shapedmember is formed of nonmetallic elastomeric material having a durometerof approximately Rockwell 78 on the D Scale.
 8. A safety packageassembly as defined in claim 5 characterized in that said first memberis tubular and having a cross-sectional shape generally conforming tothe juxtoposed interior contour of that portion of said second memberfree of said sharp edged ribs.
 9. A safety package as defined in claim 1characterized in that the wall strength of said outer container isgreater than the wall strength of said inner container.
 10. A safetypackage as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said inner and outercontainers are sealed closed independently of one another whereby asealing failure at either end of said inner container merely releasesthe contents of the adjacent end half of said inner container into theassociated surrounding end half of said outer container.